In this Wednesday, June 12, 2013 photo, English actor Terence Stamp poses for a photo during an interview in Los Angeles. Before "Man of Steel" and Michael Shannon, there was Stamp delivering what debatably remains the quintessential screen version of General Zod: perhaps the most frightening of all the screen villains to take on Christopher Reeves' Superman. Some 35 years later, Stamp is back onscreen -- sometimes frightfully, always delightfully grumpy as a pensioner who finds his lost voice, and heart, in a local seniors choir in the drama, "Unfinished Song." (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

In this Wednesday, June 12, 2013 photo, English actor Terence Stamp poses for a photo during an interview in Los Angeles. Before "Man of Steel" and Michael Shannon, there was Stamp delivering what debatably remains the quintessential screen version of General Zod: perhaps the most frightening of all the screen villains to take on Christopher Reeves' Superman. Some 35 years later, Stamp is back onscreen -- sometimes frightfully, always delightfully grumpy as a pensioner who finds his lost voice, and heart, in a local seniors choir in the drama, "Unfinished Song." (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

This publicity photo released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment shows Terence Stamp as Bernadette in a scene from the 1994 film, “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert." (AP Photo/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)

"I can't go out on the street in London without somebody saying, "'It's Zod!' It's fun for me," said Stamp in a recent interview, adding he'd yet to see "Man of Steel," which casts Michael Shannon as Zod.

Thirty-five years since "Superman," Stamp returns to theaters in the dramedy "Unfinished Song," which opens stateside this weekend after an overseas run with an alternate title, "Song for Marion."

Stamp and Vanessa Redgrave play English pensioners Arthur and Marion. He's a codger; she is full of life, but dying. And yet this is no odd couple. They are, instead, something rarely seen in entertainment: Earthbound, elderly soul mates. Forget high-flying romance. These two are real.

Eventually, Marion drags Arthur into an over-60s singing group, which has a repertoire including everything from the smoothest Stevie Wonder to Salt-n-Pepa's hip-hop classic "Let's Talk About Sex."

"'Let's Talk About Sex,' I thought, 'Great! Absolutely,'" remembered the 74-year-old Stamp. "(Talk) is all I can do at the moment," he continued, laughing. "I'm past my sell-by date."

In a separate interview, co-star Redgrave said that between takes on the set, she loved listening to Stamp's stories. "What I remember most about Terence was his enthralling discussions about all kinds of experiences ... to do with voice."

"I worked with Olivier briefly on my second movie ("Term of Trial," 1962)," Stamp recalled. "And he said to me, 'You should always study your voice.'" Stamp then segued into a spot-on Olivier impersonation, continuing, "'Because, as you get older, your looks go, but your voice will become empowered.'"

The London-born Stamp started his film career with 1962's seafaring "Billy Budd," for which he earned an Oscar nomination. Stamp's 50-year filmography is peppered with highlights, including his touching portrayal of the transsexual Bernadette in "The Adventure of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" (1994). Stamp also was widely praised for his lead in director Steven Soderbergh's 1999 crime drama, "The Limey."

Now, distributor Weinstein is attempting to generate early award-season buzz for Stamp's work in "Unfinished Song." After this interview, Stamp was off to meet with members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which hosts the annual Golden Globes.

Clearly, Stamp already feels like a winner. And it also appears that his landlord is paid in full.